reggie124
Inactive User
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- Dec 10, 2005
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Brits being bad abroad
Sock it to 'em!
Despite the best efforts of David Beckham and family, the British have been voted the worst-dressed tourists of all. One-third of Britons taking part in a recent TripAdvisor survey admitted to having been more adventurous with their attire away from home. Yet as good as a black silk sarong looks on Mr Beckham poolside, it lacks the same allure on a pasty middle-aged man called Barry. German tourists came in at a close second place, while, predictably, the legendarily stylish Italians scooped the award for best-dressed. Bellissimo.
Travels with your inbox
Holidays are supposed to be about kicking back and forgetting about work, right? Wrong in the case of the oh-so-Protestant British. With the wonder of wi-fi, it's easier than ever to find out how business is going from the comfort of your sun lounger. In one study of holiday habits, almost one-third of Brits questioned admitted to checking their emails several times a day, and 5% even kept the habit secret from their travelling companions.
Nice little spenders
Despite the huge debt our little island has run up, the British still know how to splash the cash while on holiday. According to a recent holiday habits survey, we spend more time shopping than French, German, Italian and Spanish travellers. If it moves, put it on plastic!
Look after the pounds
Does eating and drinking far too much sound like familiar holiday behaviour to you? Don't worry, you can burn it all off with a boogie in the local disco - or maybe not, as the case may be. Research shows that, compared with other holidaying Europeans, Brits spend the least time dancing in night clubs - just eight minutes a day. See you at the bar.
Parlez voo Franglais?
It seems ignorance is bliss for some British tourists, with a recent survey revealing that more than half claimed they didn't even attempt to speak the local lingo while abroad. Further, more than one in 10 adhered to the assumption that "everyone speaks English". Obviously, if the waiter doesn't understand you the first time round, just try repeating it loudly and sloooowly...
Mummy, have we crashed yet?
Driving on the wrong side of the road is tricky enough, but in a hire car, in 25C heat, with a car full of attention-starved children, not to mention all those suitcases piled high and blocking your back windscreen. You can see where this is going...Yet some Brits still insist on doing no research on local laws or speed limits before hitting the road on their jollies. No surprise then, that in a recent "driving abroad" survey the Brits appear among the top 10 most reckless nationalities.
The lobster look
Despite constant medical warnings about the dangers of excessive sun exposure, British tourists clocked up the most hours on sun loungers compared with any other group of Europeans. That probably explains why so many people return to the UK looking like freshly boiled lobsters. Perhaps we should take a page out of Spain's book: our World Cup winning continental cousins top the list for people sensibly seeking out shade when the sun is high in the sky.
We don't need no education
Culture vultures, hands over your ears. A recent TripAdvisor survey showed that the average British holidaymaker viewed visiting museums and admiring local architecture as way down their holiday to do list. On average, British tourists spend a pitiful two hours 17 minutes exploring their surroundings, presumably before finding a beach or a bar. Spain wins again in the culture stakes, its citizens investing a whopping three hours and 28 minutes a day each on cultural pursuits while travelling.
Not the romantic types
Holidays can make or break a relationship, they say. But with some Brits admitting to spending only 47 minutes a day on couple time, it may make you wonder what else they're up to? Meanwhile, in a candle-lit restaurant nearby, the Italians are being romantic for a staggering 271 minutes a day! Come on, people of Britain, get it together.
Bar flies
British drinking habits abroad are hardly news - after all, they're often on the news - but a recent survey shows that Britons do in fact spend more time propping up the bar while on holiday than do other Europeans. At least you'll know where to look for your other half if you lose him or her on holiday
Holiday heroics
According to a recent Travelsupermarket.com survey, Brits are one-third more likely to take a risk while on holiday than at home. Perhaps it's the continental summer heat that turns British people's brains, but 17% of people questioned admitted to walking home from a night out, alone. You wouldn't do it at home, so why take even more of a risk in an unfamiliar place?
Think before you tip
According to recent research 78% of Britons admit to going away completely clueless about local tipping etiquette. While 38% of people claimed to give a standard 10% to be polite, almost half over-tipped because they couldn't add up properly at the time or had no idea of the exchange rate. There were still some Scrooges in the house, though, with 5% of Brits just giving only the loose change they had on them
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Holiday flings for many are the highlight of their trip, with huge numbers of Brits admitting to sex in the sun. But with holiday romances come a bucketful of potential problems. Nobody wants to return home with STDs, an unwanted pregnancy or even a social media stalker, so just remember to protect yourself.
Try to be cool
Does your common sense go out of the window on holiday? With the combination of unfamiliar high temperatures and dehydration, suffering sunstroke or heatstroke is all too common among British travellers. Just remember, fellow Britons, umbrellas aren't just for sticking in your pinã colada - they also keep you cool.
Where are we going again?
Destination research is a less than high priority among British tourists, research shows. According to Hotels.com, when asked to identity European cities minus their most famous landmarks, fewer than half of British travellers recognised Barcelona without the Sagrada Familia and only one-third named Pisa without the leaning tower.
Sock it to 'em!
Despite the best efforts of David Beckham and family, the British have been voted the worst-dressed tourists of all. One-third of Britons taking part in a recent TripAdvisor survey admitted to having been more adventurous with their attire away from home. Yet as good as a black silk sarong looks on Mr Beckham poolside, it lacks the same allure on a pasty middle-aged man called Barry. German tourists came in at a close second place, while, predictably, the legendarily stylish Italians scooped the award for best-dressed. Bellissimo.
Travels with your inbox
Holidays are supposed to be about kicking back and forgetting about work, right? Wrong in the case of the oh-so-Protestant British. With the wonder of wi-fi, it's easier than ever to find out how business is going from the comfort of your sun lounger. In one study of holiday habits, almost one-third of Brits questioned admitted to checking their emails several times a day, and 5% even kept the habit secret from their travelling companions.
Nice little spenders
Despite the huge debt our little island has run up, the British still know how to splash the cash while on holiday. According to a recent holiday habits survey, we spend more time shopping than French, German, Italian and Spanish travellers. If it moves, put it on plastic!
Look after the pounds
Does eating and drinking far too much sound like familiar holiday behaviour to you? Don't worry, you can burn it all off with a boogie in the local disco - or maybe not, as the case may be. Research shows that, compared with other holidaying Europeans, Brits spend the least time dancing in night clubs - just eight minutes a day. See you at the bar.
Parlez voo Franglais?
It seems ignorance is bliss for some British tourists, with a recent survey revealing that more than half claimed they didn't even attempt to speak the local lingo while abroad. Further, more than one in 10 adhered to the assumption that "everyone speaks English". Obviously, if the waiter doesn't understand you the first time round, just try repeating it loudly and sloooowly...
Mummy, have we crashed yet?
Driving on the wrong side of the road is tricky enough, but in a hire car, in 25C heat, with a car full of attention-starved children, not to mention all those suitcases piled high and blocking your back windscreen. You can see where this is going...Yet some Brits still insist on doing no research on local laws or speed limits before hitting the road on their jollies. No surprise then, that in a recent "driving abroad" survey the Brits appear among the top 10 most reckless nationalities.
The lobster look
Despite constant medical warnings about the dangers of excessive sun exposure, British tourists clocked up the most hours on sun loungers compared with any other group of Europeans. That probably explains why so many people return to the UK looking like freshly boiled lobsters. Perhaps we should take a page out of Spain's book: our World Cup winning continental cousins top the list for people sensibly seeking out shade when the sun is high in the sky.
We don't need no education
Culture vultures, hands over your ears. A recent TripAdvisor survey showed that the average British holidaymaker viewed visiting museums and admiring local architecture as way down their holiday to do list. On average, British tourists spend a pitiful two hours 17 minutes exploring their surroundings, presumably before finding a beach or a bar. Spain wins again in the culture stakes, its citizens investing a whopping three hours and 28 minutes a day each on cultural pursuits while travelling.
Not the romantic types
Holidays can make or break a relationship, they say. But with some Brits admitting to spending only 47 minutes a day on couple time, it may make you wonder what else they're up to? Meanwhile, in a candle-lit restaurant nearby, the Italians are being romantic for a staggering 271 minutes a day! Come on, people of Britain, get it together.
Bar flies
British drinking habits abroad are hardly news - after all, they're often on the news - but a recent survey shows that Britons do in fact spend more time propping up the bar while on holiday than do other Europeans. At least you'll know where to look for your other half if you lose him or her on holiday
Holiday heroics
According to a recent Travelsupermarket.com survey, Brits are one-third more likely to take a risk while on holiday than at home. Perhaps it's the continental summer heat that turns British people's brains, but 17% of people questioned admitted to walking home from a night out, alone. You wouldn't do it at home, so why take even more of a risk in an unfamiliar place?
Think before you tip
According to recent research 78% of Britons admit to going away completely clueless about local tipping etiquette. While 38% of people claimed to give a standard 10% to be polite, almost half over-tipped because they couldn't add up properly at the time or had no idea of the exchange rate. There were still some Scrooges in the house, though, with 5% of Brits just giving only the loose change they had on them
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Holiday flings for many are the highlight of their trip, with huge numbers of Brits admitting to sex in the sun. But with holiday romances come a bucketful of potential problems. Nobody wants to return home with STDs, an unwanted pregnancy or even a social media stalker, so just remember to protect yourself.
Try to be cool
Does your common sense go out of the window on holiday? With the combination of unfamiliar high temperatures and dehydration, suffering sunstroke or heatstroke is all too common among British travellers. Just remember, fellow Britons, umbrellas aren't just for sticking in your pinã colada - they also keep you cool.
Where are we going again?
Destination research is a less than high priority among British tourists, research shows. According to Hotels.com, when asked to identity European cities minus their most famous landmarks, fewer than half of British travellers recognised Barcelona without the Sagrada Familia and only one-third named Pisa without the leaning tower.
